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TANYALUK 'MANGO' SAKOOT
TANYALUK 'MANGO' SAKOOT
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091 165 0260
reporter2@classactmedia.co.th
Diversion tactic:  Highways Dept spends B720mn on ‘ring road’  to ease impending light-rail traffic congestion
Diversion tactic:  Highways Dept spends B720mn on ‘ring road’  to ease impending light-rail traffic congestion
The Phuket office of the Highways Dept is spending B720 million on a four-lane road through Pa Khlok to join the Heroines Monument with what is to become a major intersection at Muang Mai, north of Thalang Town. The project, hoped to be completed within 2023, is aimed at easing congestion along the island’s busiest road, Thepkrasattri Rd, technically called Route 402, when construction of the light-rail finally begins. (See page 5.) Officially dubbed the Tha Rua – Muang Mai Highway, the road construction has already seen Phase 1 complete along 5.9km of the southern end of the existing road, Route 4027, starting from the Heroines Monument heading towards Baan Pa Khlok. Work on Phase 2, stretching 8.1km from Baan Pa Khlok to Baan Para, is already underway, with the remaining 6km of Phase 3 yet to begin, and yet to overcome some major challenges. "This project was initially presented in 2016. We started construction early this year and expect to finish it by our target, 2023. This road will be finished before light-rail construction begins,” Phuket Highways Chief Somwong Lohanut told The Phuket News. “This is to be an alternative route while the light rail is under construction. During that time, the light rail will be being built in the middle of Route 402 (Thepkrasattri Rd). Route 402 will still open but it lanes are likely to be closed while the construction continues. The traffic will definitely be slower, and this road is already nearly full to capacity with traffic,” he said. “Route 4027 will be another way for drivers to get to their destination,” Mr Somwong added. Breaking down the budget figures, Mr Somwong explained that Phase 1, from the Heroines Monument to Baan Pa Klok, cost about B50mn. “This part is already done. Only roadside drains to be installed, and this will be completed soon,” he said. Phase 2, from Baan Pa Khlok to Baan Para, is budgeted to coast about B380mn, while Phase 3 from Baan Para to Muang Mai is budgeted to cost about B290mn. However, Phase 3 has already hit some obstacles without an excavator even breaking ground. A section of 140 meters along the road is to be elevated as it passes through mangroves. The projected affected area extends some 500m from the road, covering an area of about 217 rai, Mr Somwong pointed out. “That means this part of the project must have Cabinet approval by law before the road can be built through the mangroves,” he explained. “We have started to compile our request to present to Cabinet, but it must be very thorough. It is not finished yet. I am pushing for this to be done and approved within two years,” Mr Somwong added. As Phuket residents – and Bangkok officials – learned in the building of the Thepsrisin Bridge at Saphan Hin, Cabinet tends to take such requests seriously. It took years for Cabinet approval to be finally granted in order for the bridge to cross mangroves from Sakdidet Rd to Saphan Hin on the outskirts in Phuket Town, even with the support of then-PM Yingluck Shinawatra. Worse, Phase 3 may need extra budget, Mr Somwong added. The final section of the road near where Route 4027 rejoins Thepkrasattri Rd is planned to have a flyover U-turn. “That in itself will require its own Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and we must expropriate privately owned land in order to build it,” Mr Somwong said. The intersection where Route 4027 rejoins Thepkrasattri Rd in Muang Mai, north of Thalang Town, is also on the plans to become a major junction in the near future. The extended plans for the intersection will see the junction transformed into a major motorway crossways with separate individual on- and off-ramps for vehicles exiting and joining Thepkrasattri Rd The intersection will feature an elevated “loop ramp” and an overpass, and will connect with Route 4026 on the western side of Thepkrasattri Rd. The plans also account for Route 4026, currently a minor road leading to the airport, being upgraded into a major artery feeding traffic to the long planned “airport expressway” that is to begin on the west side of the junction.
Rescue team delivers baby girl in tuk-tuk stuck in Phuket traffic jam
Rescue team delivers baby girl in tuk-tuk stuck in Phuket traffic jam
PHUKET: Rawai rescue workers stuck in a traffic jam in Phuket Town this morning (June 26) had an unexpected call to provide assistance when a tuk-tuk driver jumped in front of their ambulance, asking them to help a woman give birth in the back of his tuk-tuk.
Phuket City Police now offering free haircuts, close shaves
Phuket City Police now offering free haircuts, close shaves
PHUKET: Phuket City Police opened their own barber shop at Phuket City Police Station in Phuket Town yesterday (June 25) to provide free haircuts to the public, with Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Wisan Panmanee the first to get his haircut at the new salon.
Patong fire beside hotel contained, skills from annual drill put to test
Patong fire beside hotel contained, skills from annual drill put to test
PHUKET: After more than 100 firefighters, rescue workers and emergency medical personnel took part in an annual all-day emergency response drill yesterday, some of the participants got to put their skills to the test early this morning (June 8) when fire broke out beside a hotel in Patong.*
Taxing times: Excise tax bites hard as Patong businesses suffer
Taxing times: Excise tax bites hard as Patong businesses suffer
PHUKET: Calls by Preechawut “Prab” Keesin, the well-known head of the Pisona Group of companies, for a reprieve on an 11% excise tax levied on entertainment businesses in Patong are gaining support, with leading business figures ready to lobby the Phuket Governor for support.
Phoenix tour boat fails to sell as authorities run up huge storage costs
Phoenix tour boat fails to sell as authorities run up huge storage costs
PHUKET: The Phoenix tour boat, which sank off Phuket in July last year killing 47 Chinese tourists, remains unsold after an auction in May drew no bids as the Anti-Money Laundering Office spends more than B100,000 a month to store it.
Chalong Underpass to close one lane nightly as works are completed
Chalong Underpass to close one lane nightly as works are completed
PHUKET: One lane through the Chalong Underpass will be closed after 9pm every night while workers complete the finishing touches to the construction, Somkiet Yimpong, Project Manager at Phuket office of the Highways Department, has told The Phuket News.
Chalong Underpass: Southbound lane now open; northbound to open full traffic on Monday
Chalong Underpass: Southbound lane now open; northbound to open full traffic on Monday
PHUKET: The southbound lane of the long-awaited Chalong Underpass opened to traffic at 1pm today, and the northbound lane will open fully to traffic on Monday (June 3), the project manager confirmed to The Phuket News today (May 31).
Phuket massage parlour operator charged with human trafficking of minors for sex
Phuket massage parlour operator charged with human trafficking of minors for sex
PHUKET: A man wanted for human trafficking in providing underage girls as prostitutes at a massage parlour near Phuket International Airport has been arrested in Krabi after more than a year on the run.
Chalong underpass to open this Friday
Chalong underpass to open this Friday
PHUKET: More than three years and 11 months in the making, the 350-metre long Chalong Underpass is now scheduled to open to motorists this Friday (May 31), The Phuket News has been told.
Patong Mayor tables major conference centre for MICE initiative
Patong Mayor tables major conference centre for MICE initiative
PHUKET: Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup today headlined a major event to lure MICE tourists to the tourism town amid concerns of the falling number of tourists visiting Patong during the tourism low season months of May through October.
Weather warning tour cancellations spur new ‘reviewed’ advisory
Weather warning tour cancellations spur new ‘reviewed’ advisory
PHUKET Following a slew of complaints from tourism operators over official weather warnings unnecessarily causing large-scale booking cancellations, the Tourism Business and Guide Registration Office (TGBRO) Region 2 in Phuket will soon start issuing its own weather advisories.
HM the King donates 1.2 tons of pet food to Phuket shelter
HM the King donates 1.2 tons of pet food to Phuket shelter
PHUKET: His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Thursday (May 23) donated a large amount of pet food and supplies to Phuket Stray Dog Shelter in Thalang.
Marine Rangers: DMCR calls for volunteers to help protect marine treasures
Marine Rangers: DMCR calls for volunteers to help protect marine treasures
PHUKET: The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) is calling for people – Thai or foreign – to volunteer as “Marine Rangers” in order to protect coral reefs and other coastal areas, including mangroves, from damage by irresponsible tour operators or other unscrupulous parties.
Cannon, gun base at Racha Noi declared items of national heritage
Cannon, gun base at Racha Noi declared items of national heritage
PHUKET: The artefacts recovered from the seabed in a bay off Koh Racha Noi earlier this week have been confirmed to be a cannon and a slab used to fire the cannon from dating back to the Rattanakosin period.
Phuket honours Visakha Bucha Day
Phuket honours Visakha Bucha Day
PHUKET: Hundreds of devotees joined the ceremonies held at Wat Wichit Sangkaram in Phuket Town early this morning (May 18) to honour the major Buddhist holy day Visakha Bucha.
Baby Jumbo is dead
Baby Jumbo is dead
PHUKET: The Phuket Zoo baby elephant Jumbo, just three years old, has died from a digestive tract infection despite an international campaign calling for him to be taken into care for better protection.
Foreign divers volunteer for Maya Bay coral restoration project
Foreign divers volunteer for Maya Bay coral restoration project
PHUKET: A new coral restoration project will begin at Maya Bay tomorrow (May 15) according to the chief of Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, Worapoj Lomlim.
Biometric ID systems installed at Phuket International Airport
Biometric ID systems installed at Phuket International Airport
PHUKET: Police Logistics Office Commissioner Lt Gen Tinaphat Phumarin on Thursday (May 9) unveiled the installation of new Biometric screening systems at Phuket International Airport and said they are ready to use.
Italian expat faces recklessness causing death charge over fatal boat collision
Italian expat faces recklessness causing death charge over fatal boat collision
PHUKET: The Italian expat involved in a boat collision over the Songkran Thai New Year holidays that resulted in the death of a 74-year-old Thai fisherman has been charged with recklessness causing death, police have confirmed.